Hypericum perforatum L.
Common St. John's Wort
Perforate St John's-wort is the most familiar of our native St John's-worts, a hairless, woody-based perennial with upright stems and small, oval leaves. Held up to the light, the leaves appear punctured with tiny translucent dots (the "perforations" of its name), while the bright yellow, five-petalled flowers are dotted and rimmed with black glands.
About
Perforate St John's-wort is the most familiar of our native St John's-worts, a hairless, woody-based perennial with upright stems and small, oval leaves. Held up to the light, the leaves appear punctured with tiny translucent dots (the "perforations" of its name), while the bright yellow, five-petalled flowers are dotted and rimmed with black glands. It flowers freely through the summer and sets large quantities of seed.
It is a plant of dry, open, often disturbed ground: grassland, road verges, hedge banks, railway sides, waste places and woodland clearings, generally in full sun and on well-drained soils. Widespread across Britain and Ireland, it is also the species long gathered for traditional herbal use. The flowers are worked by bees and other insects for pollen. Tough and self-reliant, it slots easily into sunny wildflower meadows, verge mixes and free-draining grassland, though its vigour means it can spread where conditions suit.
Also known as
Common St. Johnswort · Goatweed · Klamath Weed · Klamathweed · Perforate St John's-wort · Perforate St John’s Wort · Racecourseweed · St. John's Wort · St. Johnswort · Tiptonweed
Synonyms
Hypericum perforatum floribundum
In our seed mixes
- BFS 10 – Species Rich Wildflower Meadow Seed Mix
- BFS 11 – Coastal Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 12 – Green Roof Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 14 – Brownfield Site Wildflower Mix (Open Mosaic Habitat on Previously Developed Land) – 80% Flora
- BFS 9 – Country Meadow Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS10(F) – Species Rich 100% Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS11(F)- Coastal Meadow 100% Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS12(F) – Greenroof 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS14(F) – Brownfield Site 100% Wildflower Mix
- BFS9(F)- Country Meadow 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.